Camille Nickerson

Female | Composers

About

b. 1888-1982

Camille Nickerson became noted for her research on the music and culture of Louisiana Creoles. She studied music with her parents who were pioneer musicians in New Orleans and took piano with Rene Salomon. She obtained a B.A. in 1916 and an M.A. in 1932 at Oberlin with further study at Julliard and Columbia University in New York. Nickerson collected, arranged, and published the Creole folksongs, and during the 1930\'s - 1950\'s, she lectured and performed as "The Louisiana Lady." She was active in the National Association of Negro Musicians and was a member of the Howard University faculty from 1926 - 1962. Some of her compositions are: "Lizette, My Dearest One," "Mister Banjo," and "Dance Baby Dance."